I just want to say thanks to the Broncos players and staff for putting up with me over the last two weeks. They see enough of this member of the media as it is let alone every day for two straight weeks. They’re a hard-working group who show a lot of heart… as we enter the second half of the season I have to think that the lessons learned in a first half full of incredibly tight games will prepare them well for the intense battle towards a playoff spot that lays ahead.

Don’t forget to bring your teddy bears, mittens or toques to Sunday’s game against the Kootenay Ice. We can get over 1000 this year. We find money to buy gifts for friends and family at Christmas… what’s a couple of bucks for a small gift or some warm winter clothes for a kid in need? The people of southwest show their generosity all the time. I’m looking forward to seeing it on display on the ice when the Broncos score that first goal against the Ice on Sunday.

As they officially reached the midway point, the Swift Current Broncos’ season is sounding a bit like a broken record that won’t skip over to the next song.

Shane McColgan scored at 11:21 of the third period to lift the Saskatoon Blades over the Swift Current Broncos 4-3 on Saturday night. It’s the 15th loss for Swift Current in 20 one-goal games so far this season.

“A lot of poor decisions,” said Broncos Assistant Coach Darren Evjen. “That’s where you hope that guys who haven’t played much could give you a little more from underneath. We hung in there and gave ourselves a chance… I think the guys just made some mental errors in a lot of different areas.”

McColgan and Josh Nicholls each had 3 point nights as they took advantage of Swift Current turnovers to quickly create offence in the transition game.

“They’ve got some high-end offensive guys and they make you pay,” Evjen added. “That’s where you’ve got to be aware of who is on the ice. You can’t give those guys chances because they don’t need six… they need one.”

Swift Current’s forward lines were thrown into turmoil when top line left winger Chance Lund was knocked out of the game with a lower body injury on his first shift.

“It comes down to now someone from the bottom has to come up, get an opportunity and play well,” Evjen said. “(Daniel) Dale came up today and did alright. He was skating hard, banging and he’s got to do those things to create some opportunities for Lowry and Gordon.”

Steve Myland started his second consecutive game in goal for the Broncos after being called up from the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL. He allowed 4 goals on 27 shots to take the loss. Alex Moodie stopped 30 of 33 Broncos shots to earn the win for Saskatoon. It was a bounce-back effort for Moodie after the Broncos ran him from the game in a 10-1 win back in early October.

Reece Scarlett opened the scoring for the Broncos 2:51 into the game with a quick shot from the point that Moodie didn’t appear to see. The Blades struck back with a nice re-direction by Matej Stransky on a Brenden Walker shot. That was the only goal of the game from the line of Stransky, Walker and Adam Kambeitz that had scored a combined 12 goals and 29 points in their previous 4 games.

Nicholls scored his first of 2 in the game when he chipped the puck away from Zac Mackay to create a two-on-one and ripped his 25th over the year over Myland’s glove. The late goal game Saskatoon a 2-1 lead after the first period.

The Broncos battled back in the second period and had the better of the play throughout. Despite failing to score on three power plays, Swift Current tied the game on Adam Lowry’s 18th of the season as Ryon Moser’s shot deflected off Saskatoon defenceman Dalton Thrower, off the boards and right to Lowry at the side of the Blades’ goal. Lowry extended his point streak to 10 games and has 15 points over that span.

Saskatoon re-took the lead as Nicholls deflected a Duncan Siemens point shot for his second of the game. That lead would only last two minutes before Lowry sprung Coda Gordon for a breakaway and the Calgary Flames draft pick showed great poise with the puck in finding the five-hole on Moodie for his 9th of the season. Both Lowry and Gordon had 2 point nights.

McColgan’s game winner came midway through the period and gave the Broncos time to try to tie the game up again. They came close when Gordon slid a pass to Dale for a point-blank chance that Moodie stopped and again when a Dillon Heatherington point shot was tipped just wide of the Saskatoon goal while Swift Current had Myland pulled for the 6 on 5 attack.

There is only brief rest for the Broncos as they return home from their six game road trip for a day off on Saturday. They’ve back on home ice on Sunday night when the Kootenay Ice pay their first visit to the Credit Union iPlex on Kurt’s KFC teddy bear, mitten and toque toss night. The Broncos then host the Blades on Tuesday before taking a break for Christmas.

“The games that we played were very deep (and) hard games,” Evjen said. “The problem is we don’t have time to relax… we’ve got to get home and it’s back at it right away. We’ve got to be ready to play come Sunday.”

The Broncos finished the road swing 2-4 with all four of their losses occurring by one-goal. They’re 14-17-3-2 and alone in third place of the East Division with 33 points through half of the 2012-13 WHL season. The Broncos have scored 103 goals and given up 100 over that span.

Swift Current is still without Josh Derko, Brent Benson and Shea Howorko due to injury. Lund’s status is unknown heading into Sunday. Landon Bow is close to 100% and should be able to start Sunday if called upon. The coaching staff has been cautious with Bow as to not risk re-injuring him while starter Eetu Laurikainen is playing for Finland at the World Junior Championship.

You can hear Sunday night’s game live on The Eagle 94.1 FM with The New Pioneer Co-op Home Centre Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm.

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About shawnmullin

Play by Play Broadcaster for the WHL's Swift Current Broncos on 94.1 FM The Eagle.